Hub, spindle, and axle-arm.



Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Uwmroa MLLIAM E. EAXTER wuununummuum mllllllill ll llllmnli W E BAXTERHUB, SPINDLE, AND AXLE ARM. APPLIOATION FILED D120. 30, 1997. 904,921

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDWARDS BAXTER, OF FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY.

HUB, SPINDLE, AND AXLE-ARM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM Enwanns BAXTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Frankfort, in the county of Franklin and Stateof Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hubs,Spindles, and Axle-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in hubs, spindles, and axle arms, andconsists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts aswill be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure l is a side view partly broken away of a wheelembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on about line 22 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the hub with the spokes in place, partsof the latter being broken away. Fig. l is a detail perspective view ofone of the thimbles. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the hub.Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cap for the axle arm. Fig. 7is a detail perspective view of the outer cup. Fig. 8 is a detailperspective view of the axle arm, and a portion of the axle, the innercup being placed on the axle arm, and Fig. 9 illustrates a somewhatdifferent construction for securing the several parts on the axle arm.Fig. 10 illustrates a somewhat different construction of axle, and Fig.11 illustrates a different construction of hub from that shown in Fig.5.

In carrying out my invention I employ a hub A, shown in detail in Fig.5, and having a central or body portion A provided with notches A inwhich are seated the inner ends of spokes B, and on opposite sides ofthis body A, the hub A is provided with tubular portions A which arepreferably conical on their outer sides, as shown, forming cones uponwhich bear the inner and outer cups as presently described. The bore Aof the hub A is considerably larger than the arm C of the axle C so thatthe hub revolves freely around the arm 0, but does not contact therewithin the use of the invention, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

On the opposite sides of the spokes and of the body A of the hub, Iprovide thimbles D, which are alike, so a description of one will answerfor both. These thimbles have the cylindrical portions D which extendoutwardly over the tubular portions of the hub, and also over the innerand outer cups presently described and at their inner ends Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1907.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Serial No. 408,578.

the thimbles are provided with outwardly projecting flanges D which aresecured by bolts E to the spokes and the thimbles also have the inwardlyprojecting flanges D which bear on opposite sides of the body A of thehub and the ring surfaces of the inwardly projecting flanges bear partlyon the conical tube-like parts of hub A adjacent to the part A and inthese flanges D I form sockets D into which project dowel pins A at theopposite sides of the body A of the hub, as will be understood fromFigs. 2, 4L and 5 of the drawing. This construction operates to connectthe thimbles securely with the hub and to preserve the said parts inproper alinement in the practical use of the invention.

The arm C of the axle is non-circular in cross-section and preferablysquare, and receives the inner and outer cups F, which may be alike, aswill be understood from the drawing, one of these cups fitting over theinner end of the arm C and the other over the outer end of said arm, asshown in Fig. 2. These cups have the body portions F, having each anopening F to fit the angular arln G of the axle, and each of the cups isprovided at one end with a projecting tubular portion F which fits overand bears on the corresponding tubular portion of the hub. The portionsF are corre spondingly conical or tapered 011 bearing surfacesrelatively to parts A, and the cups are provided at their ends oppositethe portions F with, preferably, circular recesses F' to receive theshoulder C at the end C of the axle C, or to receive the circularportion G of the cap G, shown in detail in Fig. (3, and applied in Fig.2. The inner cup F recessed receiving the end of the axle C forms a dustor sand band, and gives strength, while the fitting of the cap in therecess of the outer cup gives a better finish to the parts at such endof the wheel, also gives strength, and improves the generalconstruction, as will be understood from Fig. 2 of the drawing. It isevident that the axle could be made square, as shown in Fig. 10, and therecess in the cup could be made square to receive the same.

.By the described construction, it will be noticed I provide a wheel andspindle in which the inner and outer cups are held upon the axle armfrom turning thereon and fit over the tubular portions of the hub, whichtubular portion fits over but turns freely around the axle arm, and doesnot contact therewith so that the load is borne by the bearingof thecups 011 the axle arm upon the tubular portion of the hub and I providebetween the inner ends of the cups and the inwardly projecting flangesof the thimbles, and the cylindrical (inner) portions D of the thimblesand the tubular portions of the hub, ball races at H in which balls,Lmay be placed to form a ball bearing wheel when desired, and it will benoticed that in order to provide this race it is only necessary to turnoff or otherwise shorten the tubular portions of the cups to make thenecessary space for balls, the combination of the hub, thimble and cupthus forming the ball race. The tubular portions of the cups bear uponthe tubular portions of the hub and by adjusting the cups upon the axlearm, in a rotary direction which may be accomplished by removing thesaid cups and giving them a quarter or other turn, as desired and thenre-applying them to the axle arm, fresh wearing surfaces may beprovided.

As described, the spokes B are fitted in the seats A in the body portionof the hub and if they get loose at any time one of the thimbles can beremoved and wedges driven between the inner ends of the spokes and thehub, thus tightening the wheel without the necessity of cutting thetire. It will also be understood that a broken spoke can be readilyremoved and another inserted without taking down the wheel or cuttingthe tire. The seats A may be grooves with parallel sides, and the spokesmay have ten ons for fitting therein as shown in F 11. The spokes may bedished in the ordinary manner if desired and are securely held by thecombination hub A, thimbles D and the bolts E when the parts are united,as shown in Fig. 2.

As mentioned above a receptacle is formed constituting a ball race inwhich the balls may be placed so that the balls will play against theinner ends or lips of the tubular portions of the cups when the Wheel isdeflected in the direction of either, so that if the wheel is deflectedto one side it will cause the balls to bear against the cup on such sidein the use of the wheel.

The dowel pins A in connection with the thimbles tend to make the wheelstronger and to preserve a proper alinement.

In Figs. 2 and 6 the end cap is shown as provided with a bolt G to screwinto a socket in the end of the arm C. If desired, the constructionshown in Fig. 9 may be employed in which the arm X is provided at itsouter end with a threaded tenon X and the cap is in the form of a nut Xto screw on said tenon.

It is preferred to make the tubular portion of the hub conical in orderthat the draft may be lighter and as the weight comes upon the top ofthis cone surface and against the inner upper sides of the cups, whichsides are conical, tapered, or beveled, to correspond with A of Fig. 5,the tendency of the double cone surface bearing is to force the cups totheir natural bearings on the axle arm and against and lapping theshoulder C and the shoulder of the cap at the outer end of the arm. Ithus provide a cone bearing hub to which in order to add the ballbearing feature, it is only necessary to turn oil or otherwise shortenthe circular lip portions of the cups in order to give room forinsertion and play of the balls, as will be understood from Fig. 2, thusmaking a combined cone bearing and ball bearing hub and spindle.

When a wheel of this character is running on a level road the bearing isstrictly a cone bearing, but when running on an uneven surface orroadway, with the balls added, the bearing then becomes a combined conebearing and ball bearing apparatus.

By making the axle arm square and fitting the hub loosely thereon 1 formfour communicating compartments in which cup grease can be inserted forself-feeding lubrication, the lubricant readily finding its way betweenthe joints of the bearing to the wearing parts.

It is preferred to form the thimbles in one piece, the outwardlyprojecting flanges receiving the rivets or bolts for securing the spokesas well as providing a side surface for the alinement and lateralbearing of the spokes, and the inwardly projecting flange bearingagainst the side, and cone surface, in part, of the hub body, andinterlocking therewith by the dowel and pin construction beforedescribed and aiding in forming the ball race when the parts areassembled, as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim- 1. The combination substantially as herein described of theaxle having an arm angular in cross-section and a shoulder at the innerend of said arm, a cup having a body portion provided with an openingconforming to the arm and adjusted thereon up against the said shoulderand having in its inner end a recess receiving the shouldered end of theaxle and provided at its other end with the outwardly projecting tubularportion, with tapered interior circular bearing, a cup having a bodyportion fitting on the outer end of the arm and having an inwardlyprojecting tubular portion corresponding to that of the inner cup, andhaving its outer end recessed, a wheel hub having a body portionprovided with notches for spokes and at its opposite sides dowel pins,the hub being provided with a bore or opening fitting loosely over thearm or spindle and with tubular portions projecting within the tubularportions of the inner and outer cups and tapered or conical on theirouter sides, the spokes fitting in the seats of the hub body, thimblesfitting over the cups and having outwardly projecting flanges lappingalongside and secured through the spokes, and inwardly projectingflanges fitting on opposite sides 01 the hub body and provided withsockets receiving the dowel pins thereof, and balls between saidinwardly projecting flanges of the thimbles and the ends of the tubularportions of the cups, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of an axle, a wheel hub fitting loosely on the armand having the inwardly and outwardly projecting tubular portions, innerand outer cups fitting on the arm of the axle and adjustable todiil'erent positions on the said arm and provided with projectingtubular portions fitting over the tubular portions of the hub andthimbles having outwardly projecting flanges to lap alongside spokes andinwardly projecting flanges lapping along the opposite sides of the hubbody, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the axle and its arm. of a hub fitting on saidarm and provided at its opposite sides with projecting dowel pins andhaving inwardly and outwardly projecting tubular portions tapered orconical on their outer sides and cups on the axle arm and havingtubular, tapered portions fitting over the tubular portions of the huband thimbles fitting over the cups and provided with inwardly projectingflanges having sockets receiving the dowel pins of the hub,substantially as set forth.

4-. The combination of the axle having an arm, a hub fitting looselyover the arm and having inwardly and outwardly projecting tubularportions, cups fitting on the axle arm and having tubular portionsfitting over the tubular portions of the hub, thimbles cooperating withthe hub and cup tubes and forming ball races, and balls in said racesand against which the ends of the tubular portions of the cups bear,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the hub body provided at its opposite sides withprojecting dowel pins and having the inwardly and outwardly projectingtubular portions, of the thimbles having the outwardly projectingflanges and also provided with the inwardly projecting flanges extendingon opposite sides of the hub body and provided with sockets receivingthe dowel pins of the hub, spokes between the outwardly projectingflanges of the thimbles, the axle arm, the inner and outer cups on saidaxle arm and having tubular portions fitting over the tubular portionsof the hub, and the balls against which the ends of the tubular portionsof the cups bear, substantially as set forth.

(3. The combination oil the axle arm, a hub fitting loosely on said armand having inwardly and outwardly projecting tubular portions, cupshaving noi'l-circular portions fitting on the arm of the axle wherebythey may be adjusted to ditl'erent positions thereon, the said cupsbeing provided with tubular portions fitting over the inner and outertubular portions of the hub and thimbles fitting over the cups andhaving inwardly projecting flanges interlocked with the hub, allsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM EDWARDS BAXTER.

\Vitnesses C. PRIEST, \V. H. GoDwIN.

